Her Cincinnati | Articleshttp://www.hercincinnati.com/articles
Modern. Confident. Beautiful.enwebrequest@southcomm.comCopyright 2011HER CINCINNATI TO CEASE PRODUCTIONhttp://www.hercincinnati.com/articles/2013/02/25/her_cincinnati_to_cease_production
http://www.hercincinnati.com/articles/2013/02/25/her_cincinnati_to_cease_productionCityBeat Communications will cease publication of Her Cincinnati magazine, a monthly publication sharing the stories and celebrating the accomplishments of women throughout the greater Cincinnati community.

"It is with much sadness that we announce the closing of Her Cincinnati," said Maija Zummo, Editor in Chief of Her Cincinnati. "It was a spirited publication that connected the city's endless supply of amazing, talented and creative women through story and events, and I am honored to have been a part of it. I want to thank our loyal readers, advertisers as well as Her Cincinnati's extraordinary contributors for creating such a vibrant community for local women. I know it will continue to build and grow even after Her Cincinnati is gone."

“Cincinnati readers truly embraced Her for the past year. Unfortunately, the advertising support needed to keep the free publication going simply was not sufficient enough to continue publishing the magazine,” said Dan Bockrath, Publisher of CityBeat Communications. “I regret that we were unable to give Her Cincinnati a longer lifespan, but I am very proud of the quality work our team did on the publication during its run.

Her Cincinnati, a free monthly publication with a circulation of 20,000 copies, launched in July of 2012 and was distributed throughout Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. It featured a wide range of women’s lifestyle topics and focused on intelligent, imaginative and inspirational content. The March issue will be the last issue of Her Cincinnati.

]]>Mon, 25 Feb 2013 11:15:00 -0500HORMONAL HAPPY HOURhttp://www.hercincinnati.com/articles/2013/02/21/hormonal_happy_hour
http://www.hercincinnati.com/articles/2013/02/21/hormonal_happy_hour
I almost accidentally careened my car
into the icy waters of the Ohio River after driving past a billboard the other
day. The cause of this near-tragic automobile accident was in response to the
message of the advertisement: “Are you over 35 with a waning libido, expanding
waistline and suffering from lack of sleep? Maybe it's hormonal.”
Hormonal? Clearly, I misread.

Well, it's possible some assemblage of
those questions may elicit a personal "yes" in reply, but still,
isn't 35 kind of young for hormone issues? Don’t I have a few years before
menopause and having to worry about hormone replacement therapy?

WHAT IS HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY?

According to the Centers for Disease
Control, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has been prescribed to women to ease
the symptoms of menopause since the mid-1930s.

During menopause (and perimenopause),
the ovaries reduce their production of female hormones leading to hormone
withdrawal symptoms such as hot flashes, loss of libido, mood swings, hair
loss, weight gain and more. HRT supplements the waning progesterone and/or
estrogen levels with synthetic compounds absorbed through pill, patch or cream
form to help your body cope with the reduction.

In addition to easing the pain of
menopause, HRT has also been widely viewed as an anti-aging treatment thanks to
the 1960s book Feminine Forever, written by Dr. Robert A. Wilson, which
praised synthetic estrogen therapy as an effective way to stay youthful and
feminine. It also couched menopause in terms of an estrogen deficiency illness
that could be managed with HRT rather than viewing it as a normal stage in the
life cycle. The perceived added benefit of "youthfulness"greatly
increased the demand for HRT and brought it into the popular consciousness as
an anti-aging treatment.

Today, Suzanne Somers is the pop
culture equivalent of Dr. Wilson. She is one of the most outspoken supporters
of using HRT to “reverse the aging process” with books similar to Feminine
Forever touting the benefits of hormone replacement therapy. In her book, Ageless,
she claims HRT is an “inspiring, medically validated approach to reversing the
aging process and maintaining a healthy, vibrant, mentally sharp, sexually
active life.” And, with the support of influential figures like Oprah, she’s
been telling American women to look to hormonal imbalance for many of their
physical and emotional problems. Her twist? Instead of synthetic hormones, she supports
bioidenticals.

BIOIDENTICAL HORMONES

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement
Therapy (BHRT) is a different breed of hormone therapy that has become
increasingly attractive to consumers in reaction to the debate over the safety
of conventional hormone therapies.

Dr. Amy Brenner, a board-certified gynecologist
whose West Chester practice specializes in BHRT, defines
bioidenticals as: “An exact replica of the hormones that are produced in your
body.” The thinking goes that since bioidentical hormones, unlike synthetic
hormones, are metabolized identically to those made in the body, BHRT is
“better for you” than conventional hormone therapies.

In order to discern what BHRT treatment
is recommended for patients, the body’s current levels of progesterone and
estrogen must be assessed. The method preferred by Dr. Brenner and the lion’s
share of bioidentical providers for ascertaining these values is a saliva test:
You spit into a vial and they ship it to a lab.

Why spit, you ask? The argument is that
blood-test values can only assess an extreme absence or overabundance of
hormones rather than the more-subtle fluctuation levels bioidentical practitioners
are looking to tweak. Therefore, spit is preferable to blood as it allows for
finer distinctions.

This is a contentious testing method,
though. Many experts point to the fact that hormone levels vary widely
throughout the day making such subtle values difficult to interpret. Also at
issue is the fact that the lab that runs the test and sells the spit kit, ZRT
Laboratory, is the lab that decided what the “correct” hormone values should
be.

Along with Dr. Brenner, The Happy
Hormone Cottage is another local agency that will
help administer and interpret your spit kit. The Happy Hormone Cottage acts as
facilitator, counselor and educator for clients seeking BHRT.

“We believe education is key and gives
women the confidence to dialogue with their doctor and educate them on the
benefits [of hormone therapy],” says Lyn Hogrefe, the executive director of The
Happy Hormone Cottage.

When The Happy Hormone Cottage gets the
results of your spit kit, the information goes to a compound pharmacist
affiliated with the Happy Hormone practice. The pharmacist then draws up a
recommended plan of action based on your imbalance for you to bring to your
doctor who would then (upon approving the regimen) submit the prescription back
to that compound pharmacy to be filled.

A compound pharmacy crafts prescribed
medication customized to a patient allowing for a more individualized dosage
rather than providing pre-configured medication dosages (.25 mg, .5 mg, etc.)
like a regular pharmacy. The individualization of the treatment based on
personal test results is a benefit touted by supporters of BHRT. (But
detractors would point out that compound pharmacies are under scrutiny by the
FDA because of a sterile injectable issues last year that caused a fatal
outbreak of fungal meningitis.)

Like traditional hormone replacement
therapy, BHRT is administered through creams, pills, gels, vaginal rings and
transdermal patches with your personal regimen of hormone therapy determined by
your doctor and the test results. For example, every day Somers puts an
estrogen cream on her left arm, injects two milligrams of estriol (an estrogen
typically only produced in significant amounts during pregnancy) into her
vagina and then, for two weeks a month, puts a progesterone cream on her right
arm. The regimen, which she revealed on an episode of Oprah, sounds
complex and kind of odd, but testimonials of satisfied customers abound.

With BHRT, women report an increase in
energy, better mood stability, better sleep and improved cognitive functioning
in addition to relief from common menopausal symptoms. Studies also show that
visible skin aging, including wrinkles caused by low estrogen levels, can be
reversed with increased estrogen. BHRT can even make your hair more lush,
weight easier to lose and can increase your vocal richness.

And it’s not just the patients who love
it. In fact, Dr. Brenner and Hogrefe are such enthusiastic supporters of BHRT
that they are on the program themselves. And they both look fantastic. (Sorry,
had to be said.)

RISK-BENEFIT ANALYSIS

With all of these benefits, it’s
completely reasonable to wonder why our doctors are not handing out
prescriptions for hormone replacement therapy along with our annual flu shots.
And it’s because not all minds concur on the risk of either HRT or BHRT, and
more data would be nice, too.

After the immense commercial success of
Feminine Forever — whose author was later revealed to be in the pocket
of hormone-producing drug companies — and subsequent increase in demand for
HRT, people began to wonder what, if any, damage the synthetic hormones were
doing to women's bodies. In the 1970s, HRT's synthetic estrogen was shown to
elevate the risk of endometrial cancer, causing an uproar. But then, in the
1980s, HRT got back into good graces when the hormones were shown to protect
against osteoporosis and maybe heart disease. Today, the risk-benefit ratio is
again in question.

The National Institutes of Health's
Women’s Health Initiative conducted the first large scale, double-blind,
placebo-controlled clinical trials of HRT in healthy, post-menopausal women in
1991. The study was slated to continue for 15 years but was stopped prematurely
in 2002 when it found statistically significant increases in the rate of breast
cancer and vascular disease among test subjects who received Prempro (a
synthetic estrogen and progesterone compound). The threat of heart disease,
stroke, blood clots and cancer outweighed the possible good of HRT, so they
shut down the study.

And while the same large-scale tests
have not been conducted on BHRT, the thought is that the molecular difference
between bioidenticals and synthetic hormones is not enough to discount the
risks found in the Women’s Health Initiative study. (Although one study has
suggested that hormone patches and creams favored by bioidentical providers do
no carry the same risks for blood clots as do the more traditional HRT pill
delivery system).

Unfortunately, while proponents of
bioidentical hormones assert there are no risks with the therapy like there are
with conventional HRT, the lack of information on how the body interacts with
the two hormone formulas differently is a problem. The view of the medical
establishment is to assume the risks are the same for both, but Hogrefe
disagrees, saying that since her program doesn't use synthetic estrogens or
progestin (synthetic progesterone), they aren't concerned. But Dr. Brenner, who
fully supports BHRT, won't allow women with a personal history of breast cancer
to undergo bioidentical hormone therapy.

Today, before starting any type of
hormone replacement therapy, your doctor should evaluate your particular set of
health risk factors in conjunction with the severity of your symptoms when
devising a treatment plan.
The current, accepted treatment
practice for any hormone therapy is to take the lowest dose of hormones for the
shortest amount of time possible to achieve the desired outcome — although
women on bioidenticals commonly undergo hormone therapy for an indefinite
number of years with periodic testing and hormonal cocktail adjustments.

Despite the fact that we don't know all
of the risks involved with traditional HRT or bioidentical therapy, there are
undeniable perks of hormone replacement therapy that both sides recognize: It
lowers your chances of colorectal cancer, has therapeutic advantages for those
suffering from menopause symptoms and can help prevent osteoporosis.

TO YOUR HEALTH

With a bunch of promises and a bit of
risk, there’s ground to be gained with hormone therapy and the parting thought
is this: All of these professionals are there to help you. Doctors, educators,
pharmacists, all of them, will work with you and with one another to devise a
comprehensive strategy — and possibly a payment plan — particular to your
personal story to help you take charge of your physical health and well
being.

While
many of the opinions out there may differ, the unifying and sincere drive to
better women’s health is leading the discussion.

]]>Wed, 20 Feb 2013 16:00:00 -0500WEEKEND WARRIORhttp://www.hercincinnati.com/articles/2013/02/20/weekend_warrior
http://www.hercincinnati.com/articles/2013/02/20/weekend_warriorSo you don’t have the time (or the
money) to take the kiddies to visit Mickey Mouse at his magical Walt Disney
World abode this spring break. That doesn’t mean you’re destined to spend the
week together cooped up at home. In just a few car-bound hours, you and your
family can be at one of these affordable long-weekend, child-and-adult friendly
getaways chock full of outdoor adventure, neon gnomes and educational
opportunities. Starting with the closest, we’ll work our way through three
entertaining pieces of Americana.

Conner Prairie Interactive History Park, Fishers, Ind.

Estimated drive time: 2 hours

Conner Prairie Interactive History Park
is a living museum with five themed areas — Lenape Indian Camp, William Conner
Homestead, 1836 Prairietown, 1863 Civil War Journey and 1859 Balloon Voyage —
where guests experience what life was like in Indiana during the 1800s. Where to stay: With 15
hotels in five nearby cities offering Conner Prairie packages and other
accommodations (valid April-October), and nearby Indianapolis, there’s no
shortage of places to stay. Where to eat: The
Hearthside Suppers program invites you to help prepare an authentic
19th-century multi-course meal by candlelight in the 1823 Conner House, central
Indiana’s first brick home. If you visit after March 27, try the Café on the Common
for salads and sandwiches.

What to do: Try on
clothing at the McClure House in Prairietown, play a game of “hoop and stick,”
take a 350-foot-high balloon ride (after March 28), meet farm animals, make
traditional 1800s arts and crafts or board the train at the year-round
Discovery Station. What to see: Venture
into an outdoor experience that puts you in the middle of an Indiana battle
during the Civil War. The story of General John Hunt Morgan’s cavalry comes to
life in Raid on Indiana with video, sound, staging and interpreters dressed in
1800s costumes. For adults: Adults
can take the Restoration Tour of the Conner House while the kids enjoy
interactive playtime. The Conner House was built by William Conner, Indiana
statesman and fur trader, and is one of only two 19th-century buildings
original to Conner Prairie.

Hocking Hills, Ohio

Estimated drive time: between 2 and 2 ½ hours

With a 2,356-acre state park (the
original home of the prehistoric American Indian Adena culture) full of
towering cliffs, cascading waterfalls, wooded trails and gorges, Hocking Hills
is ideal for outdoor attractions such as horseback riding, fishing, hiking,
zip-lining, archery and more. Where to stay: Sleep
in a piece of history at the Historic Host bed and breakfast’s one-room
schoolhouse, farmhouse or gypsy caravan; enjoy medieval flair at Ravenwood
Castle; get spooked at the purportedly-haunted Georgian Manner on Lake Logan;
or relax at Old Man’s Cave Chalets. Where to eat: The
Grouse Nest Restaurant features fresh, local, seasonal foods and wild game
offerings such as Venison Burger and Hocking Hills Jambalaya with rattlesnake
and rabbit sausage. What to do:
Experience the vast world of nature all in one place at Hocking Hills Adventure
Trek, shop 1800-1970s vintage items at Logan Antique Mall, visit one of the
longest zip line courses in the Midwest at Valley Zipline Tours, or have a
veteran pilot take you on Hocking Hills Scenic Air Tours to see the area from a
new perspective.

What to see: For 40
years, the outdoor drama Tecumseh! has depicted the struggles of a
Native American leader defending his homeland complete with galloping horses,
live military cannons in action and recreated battle scenes. For adults: The Inn
and Spa at Cedar Falls offers many packages for adults looking to relax
including Learn To Massage Your Mate and the seasonal Pawpaw Facial/Massage
Duet.

Rock City, Lookout Mountain, Ga.

Estimated drive time: 6 hours

An Americana roadside attraction at its
best and kitschiest. Listed as one of National Geographic’s “America’s
Iconic Places," Rock City and its naturally formed rock streets are an
outdoor adventure full of plentiful gardens, ancient geographic formations,
whimsical gnomes and panoramic views. Where to stay: If you
are looking for location, Chanticleer Inn Bed and Breakfast is steps away from
Rock City Gardens. Over 20 other hotels are located on their website. Where to eat: Big
Rock Grill offers hamburgers, hot dogs and more in the short-order style
restaurant and Cliff Terrace provides pizza to guests as they approach Lover’s
Leap. What to do: Walk
the 4100-foot Enchanted Trail that winds through the 14-acre property atop
Lookout Mountain. Started in 1928 by founder Frieda Carter, the trail begins at
giant, ancient rock formations, passes a cascading 100-foot waterfall, crosses
the 180-foot Swing-a-Long Bridge and ends at an open field, now known as
Lover’s Leap, with a panoramic seven-state view.

What to see:
Fairyland Caverns are a must. This dark, man-made cave is full of gnome
figurines perched on fake rock ledges. Inside there's also Mother Goose
Village, a gathering of wonderfully bizarre fluorescent fairy tale characters,
illuminated by black light. For adults:
Visit Shamrock City for live Irish music, Irish jig lessons, traditional Irish
food and specialty beer in a souvenir glass as well as Green Shamrock Wine.

Photos provided and
by Zachary Petit and Joe Murray

]]>Wed, 20 Feb 2013 15:00:00 -0500DO YOU DARE DETOX?http://www.hercincinnati.com/articles/2013/02/20/do_you_dare_detox
http://www.hercincinnati.com/articles/2013/02/20/do_you_dare_detox
I’ve been doing a great deal of purging
lately. Winter’s long-sleeved tops and bulky wool sweaters are being shed in
favor of lighter cottons and linen fabrics. And thinning out my wardrobe has
led to the rest of the house. Old magazines are being hauled to the recycling
bin and I’m carting books off to Half Price. Pantry shelves will also get their
annual deep clean. Even my Facebook friends list is taking a hit. Nothing is
free from my wrath.

So it’s no surprise that I’m beginning
to wonder if my body wouldn’t also benefit from a bit of a cleanse as well.

I start each day with three or four
cups of coffee, I've never met a dessert I didn't like and with all of the
restaurant dining I do for work, I eat really good quality food, although I
consume my fair share of fat and calories — and probably a bit of everyone
else’s as well. Add to that hearty, rib-sticking dishes whipped up on cold
winter nights, typical holiday binging and my two-week trip to Spain with its
ham-heavy diet, and the beach vacation on the calendar with its requisite
bikinis is beginning to look ominously close and panic is setting in.

But when I say “cleanse,” I certainly
don’t mean one of those insane “drink gobs of lemon juice, cayenne pepper, lose
25 pounds in a week” types of nonsense I see splashed on the web and on the
cover of almost every tabloid. I’ve gleaned enough about nutrition over the
years to know that quick fix “plans” aren’t based on real science at all.
They’re simply stopgap measures that can be seriously detrimental to your
health. What I’m talking about as far as cleansing is lighter eating — less
meat, more fruits and vegetables — with maybe a bit of a jumpstart at the beginning.

Jennifer Kagy, a
locally based certified holistic health and nutrition coach totally
agrees. I checked in with Kagy to make sure I was on the right path before
starting my cleanse. (Calling your doctor or a nutritionist is something you
should do if you’re planning any major diet or exercise change.) I wanted to
get her feedback on the idea of cleanses in general — after all, since they are
everywhere, maybe there’s something good about them I don’t know about — as
well as some ideas to “clean-up” my own eating plan. It turns out I was spot on
as far as nutrition, but did have a few things to learn.

“As far as those types of so-called
‘Master Cleanses’ go, they’re crazy and nonsensical,” Kagy says. “Those things
are really not good for you. You get nothing [nutritionally] from them and when
you’re done, you go back to eating crap. And, not only do they offer you
nothing nutritionally, they also strip your body of good things.”

Kagy, who subscribes to the concept of
enacting meaningful, manageable and permanent
lifestyle changes, suggests that, “If you really feel as if you need to
cleanse and want to do just one thing, get up in the morning and drink one
glass of room-temperature water and do a shot of two tablespoons organic,
cold-pressed olive oil with the juice of half an organic lemon. This flushes
out all of the toxins from your liver, gets your bowels moving and helps to
cleanse your lymphatic system.” She also suggests drinking a lot of warm water
in general, as most people are dehydrated and don’t even know it.

For those who feel that they’re game
for an even bigger commitment, Kagy suggests the program put together by Dr.
Mark Hyman, a general practitioner located in Massachusetts, and television
doctor Mehmet Oz. Dr. Hyman and Dr. Oz created a three day detox cleanse based
on whole foods that feed your body the nutrition it needs while supporting your
organs. It claims to: “Reset your hormones and detoxify your body.”

There are no processed foods allowed
and caffeine and sugar are no-nos as well. The plan consists of ingredients
that are affordable, available in any grocery store and features nut butters,
plant-based shakes, green tea, vitamin supplements and, my favorite part, an
evening bath laced with lavender oil. I’m not quite sure if that’s a worthy
replacement for my coffee addiction, but for three days and a healthier me, I’m
willing to try almost anything.

While I’ve never been much of a
breakfast eater unless I’m on vacation, I do agree with the notion that it’s
important to start the day with some nutrition other than my daily jolt of
caffeine. The cleanse recommended by nutritionist Kagy features three different
smoothies, and although this particular one is meant to be for dinner, the
hearty dose of fresh fruit suits me as more of a morning beverage.

Visit Kagy’s website at
jennkagyhealthyme.com and doctoroz.com to find the ingredients and instructions
for the “Three Day Detox Cleanse” Kagy recommends.

DETOX CLEANSE SMOOTHIE

INSTRUCTIONS:Place all ingredients
in a blender and blend until smooth. Drink immediately. Makes one serving.

Photo by Jesse Fox

]]>Wed, 20 Feb 2013 11:00:00 -0500LESSONS FROM A DRAG QUEENhttp://www.hercincinnati.com/articles/2013/02/20/lessons_from_a_drag_queen
http://www.hercincinnati.com/articles/2013/02/20/lessons_from_a_drag_queen
Chalk it up to
spending a weekend night at a drag show. After lip-syncing along to Whitney
Houston as the queens strutted through an audience of enthusiastic admirers, I
realized there was a lot to learn from the art of drag performance. Mastering
the balance of exaggerated femininity and tawdry humor, power and
flirtatiousness, look-at-me bravado and love-me-please vulnerability takes
serious skill.

So on a Friday
evening, I stopped by The Cabaret in Over-the-Rhine to chat with former RuPaul’s
Drag Race contestant Mystique Summers (née Donte "B*tch I'm from
Chicago" Sims) to pick up a few tips "real girls" can use. I
joined Mystique backstage in the dressing room, a wonderland of sequins,
lights, wigs and mirrors — and enough makeup to make even the least girly girl
feel like a kid in a candy shop. As she put on her face she said, “I’m all
about bright colors and having fun and being bright on stage. I could spend 12,
13, 15 hours putting on makeup.” Clearly, I’ve come to the right person.

CONTOUR CLUB

I ask Mystique about
contouring, which, despite having watched numerous YouTube tutorials, I still
haven’t managed to master. “Contouring is god’s gift,” according to Mystique.
It’s a way to create shadow and de-emphasize certain features. It can make your
face look thinner, your nose look smaller, etc.

To achieve the
illusion, you'll need a shading powder, a highlighting powder and a brush. For
shading, Mystique suggests, “Black girls need a nice, healthy brown with a bit
of burgundy; a light brown works for white ladies." You could also try
bronzer. To increase the contour effect and enhance the areas where light would
naturally fall on the face, highlight your cheekbones and browbones, Mystique
says to use a powder "one to two shades lighter than your skin.”

HOW TO CONTOUR:

Apply the
contour powder to the perimeter of your face along your hairline, jawline and
then under your chin to elongate. Next, hit the sides and tip of your nose with
contour to make your nose appear longer and straighter, and then apply
underneath your natural cheekbones, parallel to your jaw, to emphasize them.

Use a
buffing brush to blend, blend, blend. There shouldn’t be any obvious lines —
everything should be a nice, subtle gradient.

Focus on
applying highlighting powder to the area around your eyes, your browbone, down
the center of your nose, the top of your cheekbones, the middle of your chin
and in a “V” shape from the middle of your forehead.

A COMPLETE FALSIFICATION

Applying false
eyelashes is another makeup trick that stumps me, and it seems I’m not the only
one. I’ve noticed quite a few women with asymmetrical tarantula-like lashes
hanging from their eyelids, which is obviously not a good look — you need to
use lashes that are at least somewhat realistic.

“The length they
sell at Walmart and Walgreens is fine,” says Mystique. “The ones you get at the
$1.99 beauty supply ...” she trails off disdainfully. Apparently, that’s when
you start heading into tarantula territory.

HOW TO APPLY FALSE LASHES

Bend the
lashes into an arc several times to make the band more flexible. You want a
shape that will closely fit your lash line.

Put a thin
line of lash glue on the back of your hand and then dip the band of the
eyelashes lightly into the glue. Let it dry for a few seconds until it’s tacky
to the touch. “I use hair glue,” notes Mystique (which is not necessarily
recommended for day-to-day).

Start
applying the lashes at the inner corner of your eye and work your way out.

Finish
blending your natural and false eyelashes together by curling them and adding a
few coats of mascara.

HEEL, GIRL

I’ve said it before
and I’ll say it again: You don’t have to wear heels. However, if you’re
teetering around OTR like a drunken mummy in your Kardashian-esque platforms,
please take note: Getting your strut on in heels requires skill and skills
require practice.

The best way to
practice? “Put on your heels and vacuum,” Mystique advises. “That way, you’re
walking, not thinking about your heels.”

HOW TO WALK IN HEELS

Practice on
carpet and start small. “Start out with a three-inch heel,” says Mystique and
work your way up from there.

Think about
putting your heel and the ball of your foot down at the same time. It should
look and feel like your entire foot is hitting the ground in one smooth motion.

Adjust the
length of your stride. This is one of the trade-offs of wearing heels — it’s
just not possible to walk as quickly as usual. A shorter stride puts less
stress on your hips and calves.

Filled with newfound
knowledge, I leave the dressing room to let Mystique finish getting ready for
the show. The next day, she sends me a picture of her finished makeup look, all
sparkling orange eyeshadow, violet lips and lashes for days. Admiring the
photo, I’m reminded that a flick of eyeliner, a bold stiletto or a dramatic lip
can accentuate whatever part of my personality is dominant at the moment. That
“you can be anything” feeling I get from watching drag queens perform makes me
feel powerful. And maybe that’s the most important lesson.

Sure,
we all have our favorite palettes, nail polishes and mascaras but, like food,
almost all makeup has an expiration date. Not only can things start to get
clumpy and dry out but products can also become a breeding ground for harmful
bacteria — especially makeup that contains moisture. Expensive to replace? Yes,
it can be. Worth a good case of pink eye, Pseudomonas aeruginosa or
Staphylococcus epidermidis? Absolutely not.

Here
are some guidelines for when to toss your makeup:

Mascara and eyeliner:every three months. Our
eyes are most susceptible to infection, so in accordance with the Food and Drug
Administration's recommendation you should replace your mascara at least once
every three months. The same is true with eyeliner — liquid or pencil. I
realize you probably have many different shades of liner but once you use one,
bacteria can begin to build on the tip.

Liquid foundation and
concealer:every 12 months. Or sooner if you dip your fingers or a makeup brush
into the foundation instead of using a pump; this increases the odds of
bacterial growth.

Lipstick, lipgloss and lip liner:every 18-24 months. Toss them earlier if
they start to dry out or you used them when you were sick or had a cold sore.
Lip liners may last a little longer because you can continuously sharpen them,
exposing new product.

Makeup brushes: It's a good idea to
clean these once a week to prevent bacterial build-up. Wash them with a gentle
shampoo and then let them air dry.

My
tip: Put a “trash” date on your makeup packages with a marker so you know when
to replace them. Also, if any of your products start smelling strange, change
color or texture or you apply them while you have an infection, you’ll need to
stop using them immediately and throw them away.

Now
that you’ve purged, let’s consider a “fresh” approach to your new product
selection. While in the past organic makeup didn’t conjure up images of
glamorous palettes, things have changed. There are now several natural skincare
and makeup brands with a range of innovative, contemporary and actually pretty
offerings to consider. Here are a few of my favorites:

Dr.HauschkaThis
brand is famous for organic skincare products, but the company also has a
complete line of makeup products including foundation, powders, mascara,
lipstick, eye shadows and more. Dr. Hauschka's organic makeup is certified by
BDIH (the Germany-based nonprofit association of industries and trading firms
for pharmaceuticals) and contains no synthetic chemicals. Their products are
formulated using organic and biodynamic ingredients and pure minerals. My
personal favorite: Natural Allure Illuminating Powder — a delightful pure silk
powder that gives you a light shimmer.

Ecco BellaEcco
Bella cosmetics have some of the highest amounts of organic components. This
makeup brand has a complete line of cosmetics as well as skincare products. The
company’s products are free of preservatives, artificial colors and gluten and
full of natural ingredients like organic jojoba oil, calendula and chamomile.
Their products are also reasonably priced. For fresh, dewy lips this spring,
check out Good For You Gloss in "Pleasure." Your lips will thank you;
your admirers will compliment you!

Suki ColorSuki
Color organic makeup is made using only natural plant extracts and pure
minerals. The company’s products are great even for the most sensitive skin (I
have rosacea and my skin loves this brand). Suki Color has multiple
benefits — you look great and the makeup is packed with organic ingredients
including omega oils and plant extracts that nourish and moisturize the skin.
For lovely-all-over, fresh skin coverage, try their Tinted Active Moisturizer.
You’ll be treated to a velvety finish with cell-turnover benefits.

]]>Wed, 20 Feb 2013 09:00:00 -0500NOMAD'S LANDhttp://www.hercincinnati.com/articles/2013/02/20/nomads_land
http://www.hercincinnati.com/articles/2013/02/20/nomads_land
I
first met designer, filmmaker and Cincinnati native Andrea Sisson outside a
Cincinnati Ballet adult dance class. A beautiful, other-worldly creature who
has little to no capacity for the superficial, Sisson makes it clear within
minutes of conversation that she is wholly interested in how creativity and
consciousness drive and inspire the human condition. Even before she uttered
the words “Iceland, Fulbright, documentary, my brother Jake,” I was intrigued.

She
is also 100-percent committed to whatever it is she intends so if she says, “I
want you to meet my brother,” you will soon be on your way to meet him.

A
week after I met her, Sisson, her husband Pete Ohs and I drove out to visit her
younger brother Jake at a nursing home. The couple had recently returned from
Iceland, where Sisson was a Fulbright Scholar, to support her brother; to
launch their poetic documentary film, I
Send You This Place; and to determine the next steps in the future of their
creative union. Jake was recovering from a failed suicide attempt and now had
broken limbs to accompany his diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder (displaying
both bipolar and schizophrenic behaviors).

We
became fast friends and creative conspirators. In early January of this year, I
sat down with Sisson at a Cincinnati coffee shop to fill in the blanks about
her creative journey from Oak Hills High School to DAAP to Iceland to Yellow
Springs and beyond.

MOST ARTISTIC

As a young girl, Sisson spent hours in her parent’s Green
Township bathroom making theatre. The second oldest of four and the only girl,
the household was tumultuous long before Jake’s mental illness began to take
root. Sisson's older brother Zack was born deaf and the adjustment process was
a challenge for all.

Wearing different bracelets to represent different
characters, the vanity mirror as a proscenium stage, she began to work out how
the world worked by bringing life to the ideas in her mind.

“I had these imaginary friends. One had red hair that stood
up and the other one had blue hair that stood out,” Sisson explains earnestly,
emphasizing with her hands how, precisely, the red hair stood up and how the
blue hair stood out. “They would argue in my head to work stuff out.”

It is immediately apparent that what Sisson describes as the
products of her imagination are as real to her — maybe even more real — as the
coffee cup in front of her.

“Creativity is listening to a certain consciousness. And I
have always painted these characters to tell the story of myconsciousness,”
she says.

In middle school and high school, Sisson immersed herself in
dance, drawing, painting and sewing. By her senior year at Oak Hills High
School, she had organized her schedule so it was entirely comprised of art
classes.

“Every night I went home and sewed my clothes for the next
day,” Sisson explains. “It was the peak of my creativity.”

Her high school friends and teachers agreed. She was named
Most Artistic student.

NOMADS, MUSICIANS AND ELVES

A high school art teacher’s suggestion that Sisson become a
fashion designer led her to the University of Cincinnati's Design,
Architecture, Art and Planning school in 2005. “In my first year Design
Foundation course I had a ‘Eureka!’ moment,” she says. “Using art to solve
problems and create functional solutions to assist society, well, I loved it.”

In her third year, Sisson started to move around to various
co-op jobs in New York, Iceland and Italy. “I was thinking a lot about the
nomadic lifestyle and finding places to rest. I was thinking ‘What do you
really need?’” she says, so she was inspired to create a knitwear
sweater/jacket that turned into a chair.

The next functional item that intrigued Sisson was making
clothing for musicians, including then College Conservatory of Music student
Eddy Kwon. “I made a suit for Eddy’s violin. To me it was functional art to the
max, a tuxedo with back pocket,” she says. “I started making other characters.
I could see Eddy in a world where people wear tuxes and violins.”

At times, Sisson pushed so far outside of the box that it
limited her commercial viability. “I made some outfits that were like
ready-to-wear mountain landscapes,” Sisson explains. “Some corporate people
came to a [critique] and wanted to know who would wear it. I said ‘elves.’ The
audience laughed. They blew it off and gave me a bad score.”

To know Sisson is to know that in her out-of-the-universe
universe, elves would wear it. So would she. Only lately did she come to
understand the crit. “Now I know what they mean,” she says. “Now I would
understand how to go back to the outfits and alter them to make them something
for people to wear. My desire then was to explore and push.”

ICELAND CALLING

Sisson worked her student co-ops in great cities for
well-known companies, but many of them were dissatisfying to her ambitious,
creative spirit, particularly the floor-sweeping, errand-running parts of the
job.

“I reached out to an Icelandic designer because I loved his
poetry and designs so I wrote him this long email and specified what I wanted
to do in my co-op and what I didn’t want to do,” Sisson recalls.

He wrote her back an even longer email, replying to each
paragraph.

“I almost cried. He received me and responded to me and was
excited,” she says. “So I go to Iceland to discover he is crazier than I am and
running a business. We made chairs out of concrete, we made a record case out
of concrete, or we tried to anyway.”

For Sisson, it was a great experience. “All day long I would
fold paper into purses. But really I was levitating above the table, in my mind
space.”

Sisson returned to the Icelandic designer for her final
co-op before graduation but was less satisfied, yearning for more of a creative
partnership around ideas.

By the summer of 2010, she was back in Cincinnati, finishing
up school and getting serious with her future husband, filmmaker Ohs.

“Then I got the Fulbright,” Sisson explains. “I got a letter
from the U.S. Congress saying ‘We support what you do. Go do what you want.’ I
thought ‘Oh my god, it worked! Being a little crazy is paying off.’"

The two married in August and two weeks later, with Ohs,
Sisson moved back to Iceland to complete her Fulbright.

LAUREN EDWARD

According to their website, “Lauren Edward is the superhero
that was born from the marriage of Andrea Lauren Sisson & Peter Edward
Ohs.”

Sisson recalls that in Iceland, “We started sharing
everything," she says." We wanted to be very creatively open. Pete
makes my stuff better, more complete. And we are very honest. I will say
‘That’s not good’ when he says something. As a team, what’s his is now mine so
it has to be good. I like that.”

Ohs, who is as thoughtful as Sisson and works to understand
the world with equally rigorous ambition and intellect, explains the dynamic in
similar ways. “She brings truth and purpose. She brings unfiltered emotion and
unfaltering ethics. She is the barometer," he says. "I can look at
her and immediately know if we are on the right path or if we’re off course, if
the pressure’s too high or if the stars are aligned. I put a lot of faith in
her and I’m happy to do it.”

Ohs also appreciates Sisson’s “obsessive attention to
detail.”

“Lines, pixels, colors, shapes, words, meanings; there are
tiny details that can be subtly shifted within all these elements. It takes a
gifted eye and a determined spirit to pay attention to all of them,” he says.
“To borrow from the ‘forest for the trees’ idiom, Andrea lives in the forest
and she absolutely loves each and every little animal, leaf and piece of bark.”

I SEND YOU THIS PLACE

Sisson’s obsessive attention to detail becomes a focal point
early in the Lauren Edward documentary I Send You This Place. The film, shot in Iceland and Cincinnati, examines the
nature of the mind when it becomes overwhelmed by place or circumstance. A love
letter to Sisson’s brother Jake, ISYTP asks how we construct our ideas
about what is and is not normal behavior. The visually poetic film follows
Sisson’s journey as she questions if Jake would be deemed mentally ill in
Iceland or by anyone who has experienced the tempestuous, brutal, strange
beauty of the place itself.

ISYTP screened at the Full
Frame Documentary Film Festival in Durham, N.C., the Reykjavik International
Film Festival in 2012 and in New York at the Video Art & Experimental Film
Festival in February, 2013. It also enjoyed a Cincinnati screening at the Emery
Theatre last November. It was the first time Sisson’s brother Jake had seen the
film. Jake rarely watches anything on television or film so his steady presence
throughout the hour-plus documentary was impressive. Afterward, Jake talked
with friends and fans about his primary interest: gods and goddesses.

By the time of the Cincinnati screening, it had been a
little over a year since Jake launched himself from a bridge and Sisson and Ohs
had moved back from Iceland to spend time with him. They became convinced that
the traditional, institutional, drug-heavy approach to Jake’s mental illness
was keeping him sick. Last spring, they set off to find alternative treatment
for Jake and ended up on a multi-week road trip, caring for him in his highly
psychotic, non-medicated state.

Sisson thinks of the experience now as a way to validate her
brother as he was convinced there was a better way for him to get better. “We
trusted Jake to lead the way. It was his journey, it’s his life and we were
trying to help,” she says. “I think this was a tremendous thing for Jake and my
family. Jake being listened to. Validated.”

“I also got to spend time with my brother,” she says. “I
hadn’t spent time with him since we were teenagers, since the ‘sickness.' Pete
and I wanted to stir up the situation, to help Jake, myself, others around him
see him differently.”

EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL IS FAR AWAY

Part of the vision for Jake had been pastoral: Find a farm
where he can live and heal. While it turned out it was better for everyone —
Jake included — to return to his parents, Sisson and Ohs have spent the past
six months living in a rented Yellow Springs farmhouse, making short films for
Spotify and other commercial concerns, traveling to film festivals (including
Sundance for “research”) and moving into the next iteration of their shared
vision.

Sisson’s next source of inspiration is film. She just isn’t
exactly sure yet where that will take her; perhaps L.A., perhaps New York or
both.

“We want to make films,” Sisson explains. “We are shooting
one this spring about two people walking through a desert. A young man is
carrying a wooden robot head. It’s his girlfriend and he wants to find the
parts to fix her. Then he meets another woman. She is looking for a
mythological lake. They are searching for something better and realize maybe
they don’t want to be better anymore.”

The title of this indie mirage narrative, likely to feature
Sisson as the girl looking for the mythological lake, is Everything
Beautiful is Far Away.

I ask Sisson for a word to describe what the next six months
look like for her and Ohs.

“Nomadic,” she says.

Portrait by William Coupon, sweater chair photo by Michael DeGrazier, violin tux photo provided and I Send You This Place still provided

]]>Wed, 20 Feb 2013 09:00:00 -0500THE KEYS TO STARTING OVER AT ANY AGEhttp://www.hercincinnati.com/articles/2013/02/20/the_keys_to_starting_over_at_any_age
http://www.hercincinnati.com/articles/2013/02/20/the_keys_to_starting_over_at_any_age“I
can honestly say that I learn something new every day — a new fact, a new way of doing things, a
new way of looking at an old situation," says Jane Moyer. "I had no
idea this new career would be that enlightening, but it is amazing."

Like
many baby boomers, Jane thought she would be retired and living on a beach at
age 60 but instead, she and her husband of 40-plus years, John Moyer, Sr.,
decided to start a new business.

There's
a saying that we work the first half of our lives to make a living and the
second half of our lives to make a difference, and Jane has found that to be
profoundly true.

When
John’s father and step-mother began to need extra care as they aged, Jane
focused her attention on helping them stay as independent as possible for as
long as possible. And after John’s step-mother died, they moved his father into
their home. For 11 months they took care of him, watching his dementia
progress, and hired an in-home care service when they needed to be away. But
the service didn't provide the quality of care they expected.

They
then realized the value of helping John’s father remain as independent as
possible and, equally as important, the joy it brought them. So Jane and John
signed on to be one of the first franchisees for FirstLight HomeCare, part of a
national network of in-home, non-medical care businesses, in August 2010. Since
then they have expanded to four locations and were awarded the “Franchisee of
the Year” from FirstLight HomeCare.

Jane,
who has a very positive outlook on life, found her passion for this new
business unlike anything she has done in the past. She says making a difference
in the lives of others has become first and foremost on her “To Do” list.

But
starting over isn’t an easy task — and neither is finding your passion, like
Jane did.

According
to 20-year veteran career coach Dana Glasgo (aka “The Cincinnati Career Coach”)
about 25 percent of her clients are in the 55-plus age group, all seeking
employment after retirement or as a result of losing their jobs.

“Many
times when people change careers, out of necessity or choice, they begin to
have feelings of fear. 'Did I do the right thing? Can I make this adjustment?'
These feelings are normal,” says Glasgo. “People are going in a direction,
possibly, that they have never traveled. It’s a fear of the unknown. They have
to realize that they can do it. It can be a very emotional time.”

Even
Jane still finds challenges with owning her own company — more than once she
has dreamed about getting a paycheck from someone else instead of being the one
making sure there is enough money to pay the payroll.

So
whether you are seeking new employment from a company or venturing out on your
own, you need to realize there will be challenges and frustrations, as well as
thrills in your new career. As Glasgo says, a career transition is a journey,
and not an overnight trip.

For
those thinking of starting a new career, Glasgo has a checklist of advice to
read before making the decision:

Make
sure you are financially secure before retiring, leaving a job (on your own) or
starting a new venture. The rule of thumb: Six months to one year of savings to
cover all your living expenses. This goes double if you're starting a new
business. It generally takes anywhere from six months to several years for a
new business to become profitable.

Look
at your skill set. Pick out the things you love to do and the things you never
want to do again. An honest list will help you figure out what you're
passionate about.

List
the tasks, non-negotiables and other qualities that would be included in a
dream job.

Develop
a “target” list of companies, organizations or nonprofits who employ people
with your talents and skills.

Begin
to branch out and network with other people who have similar likes and
interests. Let them know you are looking for a new path. Networking gives you
the opportunity of multiple eyes looking for a position that is right for you.

The Last Word, a Prohibition-era gin
cocktail, was created at the Detroit Athletic Club during the 1920s. Frank
Fogarty, “the Dublin Minstrel,” a famous vaudeville comedian, discovered the
drink there and brought the recipe with him to New York. It was first
written down in Ted Saucier’s famous cocktail recipe book, Bottoms Up,
in 1951.

The use of Chartreuse, an herbal French
liqueur, is important to this drink. If you haven’t had Chartreuse, you are in
for a treat. Chartreuse is a very old liqueur that dates back to 1605. The
story goes that King Henry IV’s artillery marshal presented a recipe for an
ancient elixir that claimed to give the imbiber long life to the
Carthusian monks. The recipe was super complex, blending 130 different herbs
and botanicals in an alcohol base, and it took the monks until 1737 to decipher
and perfect the recipe at their headquarters at the Grande Chartreuse monastery
in southeastern France.

Originally intended for medicinal
purposes, today the liqueur is drunk straight and very cold or in cocktails,
like this one. The Chartreuse monks still use the same ancient recipe to create
the spirit in their distillery in France and, to protect the recipe, it's said
that only two or three monks know how to prepare the different parts of the
herbal mixture at any given time.

INSTRUCTIONS:Shake ingredients together with ice and
strain into a cocktail glass.

Photo by Jesse Fox

]]>Tue, 19 Feb 2013 17:00:00 -0500THE GOAT GROOM AND THE BUNNY BRIDEhttp://www.hercincinnati.com/articles/2013/02/19/the_goat_groom_and_the_bunny_bride
http://www.hercincinnati.com/articles/2013/02/19/the_goat_groom_and_the_bunny_bride
Carla Morales and Phil Valois were
eager to bring their professional talents and personal style together as they
designed their June 4, 2011 wedding. And as graphic designers, no aspect of
their DIY ceremony and reception was left untouched.

Carla, a house rabbit mom who designs
under the name Carla Rabbit, and Phil, a graphic designer who loves goats,
quickly decided on a Goat Groom and Bunny Bride theme — especially fitting
since they wed in the Year of the Rabbit.

“Phil and I are makers,” says Carla,
who designs with her now-husband under the moniker Reptiles+Rainbows. “We are
always working on art and design projects, be it for ourselves or for a client.
… Our DIY approach to the wedding is just the way we work.”

The ceremony and reception were both
held at the Oak Ridge Lodge in Mount Airy Forest, tucked away from loud noise
and busy streets.

“I loved the giant trees, so we set up
the ceremony on the grass and used the woods as our backdrop,” Carla says of
the venue. “Mount Airy Forest also has a really cool, big treehouse that I
always thought would be fun for photos, so Phil and I took some of our
portraits in there.” Photographer Johanna Virta captured the day.

They transformed the outdoor venue into
a “50 shades of lavender" affair with 36-inch purple balloons, tissue
paper puffs and paper garlands and incorporated their style as a couple and as
individuals with unique touches of rabbits and goats.

“Everything had to comply with the Goat
Groom, Bunny Bride
identity we created,” says Carla, “even
the scent and color of the bathroom soap — lavender. We brewed two kinds of
beer and designed the label on the bottles. Like the bride’s ‘Bunny Brew’ was
light and sweet with traces of lavender; ‘Goat’s Milk’ was dark and heavy like
Phil.” Their wedding program even doubled as a goat/bunny mask and a fan.

The ceremony commenced with a modest
wedding party strolling down grass to Elvis tunes. The bridesmaids wore various
hues of purple while the groomsmen wore furry Lamb’s Ear leaves on their suits.
In lieu of a ring bearer, Phil and Carla had a ring bear: Carla’s five-year-old
nephew wore a furry bear hat and carried the rings on two wild carrots. Phil
wore a hand-died bowtie courtesy of local design studio, Brush Factory. And
then Carla made her entrance in a short Anna Sui gown with gold glitter
Vivienne Westwood plastic heels.

“My first (and only) stop was at Anna
Sui, one of my longtime favorite designers and the inspiration behind our black
and lavender wedding colors,” Carla says. Her hair was a work of art all its
own, styled by Jessie Hoffman of Parlour salon, with a real rabbit skull
attached to a gold netting birdcage fascinator Carla made herself.

Before the walk down the aisle, Carla
was eager, not anxious. “My sisters couldn’t believe how calm I was,” she says.
“I wasn’t nervous at all. I couldn’t wait to walk down that grass. I remember
thinking, ‘All my friends are here, my family is here, I’m about to marry Phil,
let’s do this!’” The ceremony closed with "Wouldn’t It Be Nice" by
the Beach Boys.

The reception was just a hop away from
the nuptial site. Guests found their table numbers listed on lavender-flavored
rock candy and followed them to glass table numbers cast from numbered birthday
candles, courtesy of the friends and family who created them at Brazee Street
Studios, where Carla acts as visual director. The dinner was vegetarian,
perfect for a rabbit and goat, and Carla's sister baked the wedding cake, which
was complimented by gelato from Dojo Gelato.

Suiting up as centerpieces were plaster
goat and bunny heads with jade succulents sprouting from the eyes. “Phil and I
don’t like flowers; we like plants,” says Carla, who carried a purple artichoke
bouquet from H.J. Benken florist. So the groom’s mother grew and grafted each
centerpiece for the event. After the guests found their tables, the new duo hit
the dance floor.

“Our first dance was a swing routine to
Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ crazy rendition of the classic "I Love Paris"
— our rabbit’s name is Paris,” she says, “Everyone danced and sang with Sexy
Time Live Band Karaoke.”

Capping off the night with a torrential
downpour, the newlyweds and their guests danced under the rain while the band
continued jamming. “Those guys were so cool to keep the party rolling,” says
Carla. The couple and their partygoers ended their blissful day indoors
enjoying one last acoustic tune.

All jewelry and bags featured in this shoot were borrowed from VogueVert, an online shopping boutique that offers the “conscious minded woman access to the newest, most talented green and compassionate designers, all in one place.” Founded by Cincinnati-based Kathy Hamm, a financial advisor, artist and philanthropist, any woman would be proud to wear VogueVert's impeccably curated collection of beautifully made, high-end designs — even if they didn't have a green-leaning bone in their body. And if supporting the store through products wasn't enough, one dollar from every purchase and ten percent of their overall profits go to the VogueVert Charitable Foundation to fund scholarships for design students that support the protection of the environment, animals and women around the globe.

]]>Tue, 19 Feb 2013 06:00:00 -0500CHEMICAL-FREE SPRING CLEANINGhttp://www.hercincinnati.com/articles/2013/02/18/chemical-free_spring_cleaning
http://www.hercincinnati.com/articles/2013/02/18/chemical-free_spring_cleaning
Over the span of your house-cleaning
years, volatile organic compounds released from cleaning products can build up
in your system, causing a variety of respiratory illnesses ranging from lung
disease to adult-onset asthma, according to the American Lung Association. More
immediate household chemical reactions can also cause dizziness, skin
irritation, vomiting, fainting and even death.

For instance, if you accidentally
combine ammonia and bleach you can release highly explosive compounds such as
nitrogen trichloride or toxic inhalants such as chlorine gas. Or, if you're
repeatedly exposed to phenol, frequently found in furniture polish, you can
sustain injuries ranging from dermatitis to central nervous system ailments
such as seizures.

And don’t forget the risk of household
chemical poisoning to children and animals.

According to a 2010 study by the New
York State Department of Health, women who worked cleaning jobs while pregnant
had an increased risk of having a baby with birth defects, and it's no wonder.
United States law doesn't require manufacturers to list all of the ingredients
in their consumer cleaning products — not even the “green” ones. So some
all-purpose cleaners, which use sudsing agents such as diethanolamine and
triethanolamine, form skin-absorbable carcinogens when they come in contact
with certain preservatives. Others contain preservatives such as bronopol that
release formaldehyde, another known carcinogen, while you clean. And if you
flush, rinse or trash your cleaning products containing nitrogen, phosphorus or
ammonia, the chemicals can leach into the water supply and harm livestock and
young children by restricting the transportation of oxygen in their
bloodstream. So what's a clean freak who doesn’t want to harm herself or others
to do?

Well, years before the invention of
toxic household cleaners, our grandmothers still had clean houses. (I remember
my granny, who lived by a railroad track, used vinegar and water to clean her
soot-dirtied windows — safe enough for even the little ones running around
her home to drink.) And while we like to think that we have become more
sophisticated when it comes to cleaning — like adding the word “disinfecting”
to our products — maybe we need to take a step back to look forward.

This year, "spring clean" the
chemical-free, old-fashioned way for a lemony-sweet home that's both clean and
safe.

The three most commonly used natural
household cleaning agents are baking soda, lemon and white vinegar. Add some salt, club soda, liquid castile
soap, beeswax, hydrogen peroxide, olive oil and cornstarch to your arsenal and
your cleaning supplies are complete.

Here are a few common household
cleaning dilemmas and how to tackle them using just these homemade, non-toxic
cleaning solutions.

Dirty windows/countertops/appliances/etc.Mix ¼
cup of white vinegar with one gallon of hot water and clean as usual. Or combine 2 Tbsp. of liquid castile soap with 2 cups of
water in a spray bottle and use that on countertops. For windows, wipe with
coffee filters — they leave no paper residue.

Moldy groutTo remove mold from tile grout in the
bathroom, mix one part hydrogen peroxide with two parts water in a spray
bottle. Spray the mold and let the mixture sit for at least one hour before
rinsing.

Stinky drains and garbage disposalsPour ½ cup of baking soda into the
drain followed by ½ cup of vinegar. The fizzing action will clean the drain in
about 10-15 minutes. Rinse with clear water.

Scuff marks and carpet stainsScuff marks can be removed from floors
with a sprinkle of baking soda and water, plus a little elbow grease. To tackle
stains on upholstered furniture or carpet, use hydrogen peroxide. Fill a spray
bottle with peroxide and spritz the stain. Then sprinkle on some cornstarch to
absorb the liquid and lift the stain. Brush off the cornstarch or vacuum it up
when dry. Note: peroxide is a bleaching agent, so test a small spot for
colorfastness first.

Burned-on food in the ovenOven cleaner can be made by mixing ¾
cup of baking soda with ¼ cup of water into a paste. Spray the oven with
diluted liquid castile soap and then apply the paste mixture to the inside of
the oven and let it sit overnight. Scrape the paste mixture off with a spatula
or putty knife and then give the oven a spray with an all-purpose, equal parts
vinegar-and-water mixture. If there are still hard-to-remove spots, take half
of a lemon, sprinkle it with baking soda and use it as a scrubber. Note: Salt
makes the perfect “scrubbing agent” when baking soda isn’t quite enough.

Soap scumSpray down your shower with a mixture
of 4-5 Tbsp. of lemon juice in a quart of water (or just rub a cut lemon
directly on the shower tiles). The citric acid in the fruit cuts soap scum and
freshens your bath.

To sanitizeKeep a spray bottle of the above lemon
juice mixture on hand for sanitizing cutting boards, the top of the stove,
counters in the kitchen and bathrooms.

]]>Mon, 18 Feb 2013 15:45:00 -0500AN ARTIST'S RETREAThttp://www.hercincinnati.com/articles/2013/02/18/an_artists_retreat
http://www.hercincinnati.com/articles/2013/02/18/an_artists_retreat
Taking a step into artist Suzanne Marie
Lambert’s cozy East Walnut Hills home is like strolling through a
three-dimensional scrapbook — every surface is laden with trinkets from
multiple continents, family photographs, colorful art and an array of inspiring
quotes.

Friends often gasp that it feels like a
museum and after exhibiting her personal artwork in France, Germany, Hungary,
Spain and many U.S. cities, one would only expect Parisian flea-market
treasures, Algerian baubles and mementos from New Mexico nature walks to
cluster into a personal archive. Lambert’s sense of creating an aesthetic
journey through artifacts and portraitsis not
only prevalent in her home, but her artwork as well.

Lambert lives the artist’s dream of
being a painter, photographer and sculptor, traveling to various cities and
leaving her paintings in galleries and homes like footprints left behind.
Nestled among the historic mansion-style domiciles of East Walnut Hills, her
home is perfectly niched between the bustle of downtown and the eclecticism of
O’Bryonville.

Although she spent many years living in
the sunlight and warmth of South Beach and time in Paris, Lambert loves the
convenience and collaboration Cincinnati has to offer.

“Once I moved here, I got immersed in
it," Lambert says. "There's a really strong connection between
artists here and working together. I think that Cincinnati is getting a name
for itself in visual arts.”

Lambert used to have a studio in a
large, local warehouse, but traveling out of her home never seemed to be on her
agenda. “I ended up never going there because I didn’t feel like leaving,” she
says. “I always ended up painting in my kitchen.”

Luckily, Lambert’s large,
high-ceilinged dining room is all the escape she needs to create her abstract,
vibrant-hued murals and paintings. Cacti and art supplies line the long
hand-painted windows, which bring in enough sunlight to illuminate the room
like a Southwestern sun parlor.

When inspiration subsides in
Cincinnati, Lambert turns to her studio in the south side of Paris, which she
visits three times a year. However, she’s always happy to leave the sidewalks
of the City of Light and return home. “I kind of live in my studio now, it’s
taken up my whole house.” See her work at suzannemarielambert.com.

“Most of my
paintings I do as sort of an expression or reflection of a place I’ve been or a
person that I know,” Lambert says. “I’ve done a lot of paintings about Paris.
Sometimes I write things on the side in distressed French.” Her paintings can
be found around Cincinnati in Urban Eden in OTR, Cafe De Paris in Garfield Park
and many homes throughout the city.

Walking across Lambert’s
paint-splotched canvas floor emits the feeling of walking across an artist’s
palette. “I save the canvas that I use as a floor drop and stretch it, frame it
and sell them,” she says.

Handwritten and cut-out quotes from Henry David Thoreau and
Marcel Duchamp are juxtaposed on the wall next to photos of Andy Warhol and an
image of Miles Davis, peering from a postcard with a confident gaze. All of
these chosen words reflect Lambert’s daily mantra, “They’re what I want to
remind myself,” she says. One of her favorite quotes comes from Victor Hugo:
“There is one spectacle grander than the sea, that is the sky; there is one
spectacle grander than the sky, that is the interior of the soul.”

“I crave color, I desire light” is a quote Lambert penned
many years ago, which ruminates throughout her work. This corner of her
dining-room-turned-studio is her “place of contemplation, rumination, reading,
writing, picture-looking and dreaming.” The windows behind the chair are a pair from her vast
collection of abandoned windows, which she paints, adding a trendy yet rustic
feel throughout the home.

“Sometimes you’ll be on the Metro in Paris and I’ve seen
these gypsy guys just jump on the Metro and start playing ... it’s so fun
because they’re always so free and into it and they’re rockin’ it and that’s
how they make a living,” she says. This inspiration has led Lambert to pursue
the accordion. “My fantasy is this: I just want to have an exhibition and when
everybody’s there I’ll just whip out the accordion and start playing.”

“A photograph is a painting made with
other tools,” Lambert says. One of Lambert’s favorite subjects to photograph is
people, from musicians to her own family. Family portraits ornament the
mantelpiece and bookshelves. Black and white portraits of her son compliment
teal and orange photos of Frida Kahlo and Georgia O’Keeffe — Lambert’s favorite female painters.

Lambert dismisses traditional notebook
buying for a new, upcycled approach: turning colorful catalogue pages blank
again. “I decided that instead of throwing away books, you know, little
brochures, I thought that if I painted pages, then I can draw in them and use
them as journals,” she says.

“This one, I’ve already started using
as my journal,” she says.

"I have many groups of photographs of my
family and loved ones around my place. The two photos, which can be seen, are
one of me sitting on a sidewalk curb at Findlay Market; my granddaughter is
just in view over my right shoulder. The other photograph is of my grandmother,
Torah Lambert, who I adored. She lived to be 102 years old," Lambert says.
"Also you [can] see a small ceramic bowl. I made this bowl when I was in
8th grade. It was the first clay I ever worked with. I was really into
hand-painting little blue flowers on my creations at that time."

Rustic colors are often seen in Lambert’s
paintings, influenced from her frequent visits to her daughter in Albuquerque.
“The skull was a gift from a longtime, dear friend," she says. "My
favorite things to do in the Southwest are to hike, photograph, paint, eat
local foods, mostly enjoying the big, blue sky, mountains and my family, of course.”

Some believe that thousands of years from now, when people examine the things we post and share on the Internet (the horror!), our collective obsession with cat photos will mimic the Egyptians' feline-friendly hieroglyphics. While I’d hate to see this century remembered for I Can Has Cheezburger, our cat fancy cannot be denied. Further proof: Monopoly is replacing its iron piece (who knows what those are anymore, anyway?!) with a cat.

Most Archer fans know the voices behind their favorite ISIS staffers, but Vulture found the real-life inspiration for each animated character. How much tail do you think Sterling doppelganger Jason Fitzgerald is getting?

Snowstorm Nemo rocked the Northeast last week, and we all know what that means for grocery stores:

Is eye-posuction a thing? Lil’ Kim debuted her latest face recently, and homegirl doesn’t even look like the same species (perhaps she’s just another feline worshipper?). I’m sure I’d do a lot of fucked up stuff to myself if I was a badass millionaire rapper, but go under the knife to this point? I think not. What happened to our demure, pasty-sporting, natural beauty?

One of the most annoying aspects of Facebook (and damn is that saying something) is getting its own television incarnation — Farmville: the TV show (via Videogum).

Who could forget Sweet Brown, the 2012 Internet sensation from Oklahoma City, Okla. whose spirited news interview post-apartment fire went viral? You may know her from the “Ain’t Nobody Got Time For That” meme. Few surpass meme status, but Sweet Brown booked herself a dentist commercial! Via Dlisted:

If you’re an Always Sunny fan, you know all about the D.E.N.N.I.S. System, Dennis Reynold’s method for luring and abandoning women, aka “erotic conquests.” Find your own system for torturing romantic pursuits here. This is mine:

J - Justify Approach

A - Accept Fault

C - Cry Together

Q - Quality Time

U - Unexpected Action

E - Engage Physically

L - Lend Money

I - Inspire Hope

N - Nurture Dependence

E - End Relationship

Just in time for Valentine’s Day! (Thanks, Hannah!)

An Internet hacker known as Guccifer recently published photos and “sensitive correspondence” from the Bush family, including both former presidents. The most interesting find? Evidence of Dubya’s interest in the arts. Via The Smoking Gun:

]]>Wed, 13 Feb 2013 09:45:00 -0500I JUST CAN'T GET ENOUGHhttp://www.hercincinnati.com/articles/2013/02/06/i_just_cant_get_enough
http://www.hercincinnati.com/articles/2013/02/06/i_just_cant_get_enoughSunday’s Super Bowl was arguably one of the most entertaining sporting events for even the most athletically clueless. Admittedly, I fall into that category ­— this was probably the most recent football game I’ve watched since last year’s SB — and generally watch for the commercials and half-time show/to justify eating my weight in cheese and crackers/to feel like a real American. But from on-field brawls and the post-Beyonce power outage to the tense final minutes of the game, this shit show was truly a spectacle! Bravo, NFL. Bravo, America.

Queen Bey’s half-time extravaganza was flawless, lip-synching or not. She booty-popped her way through a handful of hits and even summoned recently-reunited Destiny’s Children Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams (no, not her) to perform a couple classics in coordinating outfits (obvs). Kelly was looking extra fabulous and, as a friend pointed out, that's really saying something about a chick dancing alongside Beyonce. Michelle, as always, played the cute third wheel role. It appeared that her mic was off for half of her time onstage, which was probably the stipulation for Beyonce even allowing Michelle to be included in the reunion. DC superfan note: Michelle always gets the shaft.

For those who care even less about football than me but still want to check out the over-hyped commercials, see a roundup here.

30 Rock came to a bittersweet end Thursday. Tina Fey’s hit changed the comedy landscape and the way we look at snack foods (I’ll never eat a cupcake the same way again!). Take one last jaunt through TGS memory lane with every trucker hat Frank wore throughout the series.

While Girls’ Lena Dunham is still new to the TV scene, the love-her-or-hate-her writer/director/producer/actress will embark on a new HBO series with Girls co-executive producer Jenni Konner.

Conan O’Brien a certified comedy demigod — one of the most beloved late night hosts of the 21st century.

Despite the buzzed-about drama with Jay Leno and Conan’s move to TBS, the show retained its core audience and it’s clear people still love them some Coco. And, after watching last week’s Occupy Conan episode, it’s clear Coco loves us, too. Back in November, the late night host announced he’d present a fan-generated episode. Viewers were invited to re-imagine their own episode based on the Aug. 16, 2011 show with Anne Hathaway and Fun. Tons of original content was submitted and mashed together to create an epically weird and hilarious version of that episode. “Occupy Conan” featured animations, live-action interpretations, puppets and even submissions from the likes of Tina Fey, Fred Armisen and Joel McHale. I hadn’t actually seen the original episode, which is unfortunate as Anne Hathaway gave the most WTF-worthy rap performance only a white girl could pull off (or not — you decide). I wouldn’t be surprised if this becomes a new TV trend for shows with particularly ambitious/obsessed fans. Check out the full fan-sourced episode here.

In hatchet-wielding homeless hitchhiker news: A delusional man in Fresno, Calif., claiming he was Jesus, purposely hit a PG&E worker with his car. Thankfully, help was on the scene:

Sa-Mash.

]]>Wed, 06 Feb 2013 15:45:00 -0500IT'S YOUR PARTY AND YOU'LL PLAN IT IF YOU WANT TOhttp://www.hercincinnati.com/articles/2013/01/25/its_your_party_and_youll_plan_it_if_you_want_to
http://www.hercincinnati.com/articles/2013/01/25/its_your_party_and_youll_plan_it_if_you_want_toIf you’re one of the 250,000 couples who got engaged between
Dec. 25 and Jan. 1 — the most popular pop-the-question week of the year — or if
you’re hoping to get that sparkling rock on Valentine’s Day — the second most
popular time to get engaged— you’ll be among the 1.5 to 2.2 million couples who
tie the knot this year in America.

And once you have the ring, it’s time to start planning.

Planning a wedding is like planning a huge corporate event.
You’ve got 100-300 guests, special speakers, entertainment, food and a theme.
I’ve been helping brides plan weddings for more than 20 years and I’ve learned
a few things along the way: Planning a wedding is costly, time consuming,
stressful and it can be incredibly fun.

From day one, immediately following placing that engagement
ring on your finger, your head will be swimming with beautiful things: You’ll
envision yourself in multiple settings, different types of dresses, surrounded
by different, elaborate flowers. Allow some time to daydream … and then start working
on your very special day.

Step 1: Get Organized

There is a lot to be done and I can’t stress organization
enough. During a wedding I planned several years ago, we were in charge of
everything. The couple was very laid-back, easy to please, picked everything we
suggested and kept within the budget they planned. The only thing they had to
do outside of my office was the cake tasting. They went to the bakery, tasted
cakes and made their selection. On the day of the wedding, we were traveling
between the church and the reception when I received a frantic call from the
reception hall manager telling me no cake had been delivered. I couldn’t get in
touch with the bakery (it was after hours) and there were 300 guests on their
way to the reception expecting to eat cake. With a few emergency phone calls, I
located a grocery store bakery and purchased multiple cakes, which arrived just
before dessert was served. Apparently the bride and groom had made their cake
selection but failed to make a deposit or payment on the cake. So let me say
one more time: Get organized!

Step 2: Create Budget

Many brides have come to me and rattled off everything they
wanted included in their wedding plans: The most popular venue, an outrageous
dress, top-of-the-line menu, live flowers, 16 bridesmaids and a limo service
for their entire wedding party. And their budget? An unrealistic $5,000.

In 2012, the average wedding cost $26,500 — and the key word
here is “average.” In New York City, average wedding costs last year topped $65,000,
so be glad you live in the Midwest.

Be practical and figure out how you’re willing to pay for
your blessed event. Are your parents chipping in? Are your fiancé’s parents
helping you? How much will you be contributing? In this day of high costs and low
economy, anything goes. The old tradition of the bride’s parents picking up the
tab ended around 1990. Find out how much you have to work with and start there.

Step 3: Price It Out

Once you have your budget in hand, purchase a wedding
planning book that includes worksheets and ideas. The fun part starts when you
can begin to dream. Make a master list of everything you want and dream big.
Envision yourself in the most glamorous, elegant or frou-frou setting and then
let reality sink in. Start pricing out the things you love and must have and
then figure out what you can live without. If live orchids are the most
important thing to you, get them, but realize you may have to cut back
somewhere else.

Pricing out your wedding can be daunting. You need a list
(hopefully from your helpful wedding planning book) covering every single item
you need to purchase to have a wedding. Start with the most imperative things:
the ceremony venue and reception location. Next in price importance are the
photographer and videographer (if you’re using one), the entertainment (band or
DJ) and the menu planning — all of these are the big-ticket items you need to
plan for. Shortly thereafter, focus on the flowers, decorations and
accessories.

Step 4: Secure Your Venue(s)

Remember: You’re competing with 250,000 other couples who
also want a location, so book yours as soon as possible — and be prepared to
put money down as soon as you start making reservations. When our son and
daughter-in-law got married, they actually called on midnight one year in
advance to reserve the church they wanted. By the next morning there were five
messages on the answering machine from couples who also wanted that date.

There are really no set rules for wedding ceremony locations
any more. Park settings are popular in the spring and summer months and even
into the early fall. May and September are the most requested for outdoor
locales, so again, plan in advance. Destination weddings are popular if you
want just the immediate family in attendance with a larger reception when you
return home. (Note: These don’t save you very much money by the time you travel
to and from and then pay for the reception.) If you know someone who has a
great backyard and your guest list is the right size, renting a tent and
setting up chairs is an option you may consider. And if you’re a
traditionalist, a church wedding followed by a separate reception (very few
churches allow drinking on the church grounds) is the way to go.

The single most expensive part of your wedding will be the
reception, but there are always ways you can cut costs. For example, you can
rent a “hall” (i.e. a VFW, church fellowship hall, American Legion, community
center, etc.). In some halls you get nothing and just pay for the time rental,
and in others there’s a flat price, which includes everything but the food.
Most hall rentals include the tables and chairs and the cost of clean-up. They
might make you pay a bartender or two, depending on the number of guests, but
you can choose and pay for your own caterer, table coverings, place settings,
decorations and everything else to make the party special. This gives you the
most for your money because you’re doing all the work and you can haggle for
prices along the way.

Many brides choose an “all-inclusive” reception venue which
provides all the above and the cake, appetizers and part of the bar selection,
such as wine and/or soft drinks. This type of rental is generally a flat price
for the room and so much per person. Expect to pay between $1,500 and $3,000
for the room plus $30-$50 per person attending the wedding. The bar bill is
extra, so how “open” your bar tab is will determine the amount you pay at the
end. Just a heads up, I have seen bar bills equal the cost of the entire
reception so decide in advance if you want an open bar and how much you’re
willing to spend.

Step 5: Pick Your Wedding Party

Emotional issues come up all along the way when planning, so
make sure you think about things in advance. Picking your wedding party can be
one of these emotional catalysts. Deciding who you’re picking and who your
groom is picking for a wedding party can be frustrating, tearful and create
heartfelt agony. You might not be able to have everyone in your wedding that
you want. Remember, every bridesmaid adds another bouquet, bridesmaid gift,
dinner plate and date, which means more money.

Another note, it is your groom’s right to choose who he
wants as a groomsman, regardless of whether or not your third bridesmaid hates
who she’ll walk down the aisle with. This is his time to pick and, let’s face
it, it is one of the few things for which he has a final say. (While most
brides begin by including their future Mr. Right, most leave him behind
somewhere between the invitations and the flowers.)

Step 6: Find a Dress

Shopping for dresses can be an exciting event. Typically,
you should include your mother, your fiancé’s mother and your bridesmaids. Make
it a day of fun and laughter. Schedule an appointment with the bridal salon at
which you want to shop and let them know how many are coming. You want to be
able to take your time and not be rushed. This is an important occasion.

One of the brides I worked with had her aunt volunteer to
pay for her dress because the aunt had no daughters, but instead of inviting
her to come along while she was trying on dresses, the bride gladly took the
money but not the aunt! Be aware of those around you who would like to be
included in your “inner circle.” If you have future sisters-in-law who are not
in the wedding, including them in this special event can win a lot of points
later.

Step 7: Adhere to Your Timeline

Keeping track of a timeline is especially helpful. Most good
wedding planning books have a master timeline of where you should be and when.
A one-year engagement and wedding planning time is perfect to accomplish most
of what you want to get done, but I’ve done weddings in as few as three weeks
and in as many as 18 months. Keep track of everything you do and when you do
it, how much it costs, if you made a deposit, what still needs to be paid or
decided and if a task is complete.

Step 8: Enjoy the Ride

Have fun! Plan a day to remember and enjoy it. I have worked
with some “bridezillas” in my time and they are no fun — for their fiancé,
their families or themselves. Chill out. I can make a guarantee to you right
now: Not everything will be perfect. The goal is to hope that about 95 percent
of the wedding is and the rest will be forgotten.

When your wedding day actually arrives, take a breath and
let everyone else handle the details. Adopt a “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” mentality
and if something goes awry, which it will, just smile and say this will be one
of those memories you laugh about on your anniversaries.

Savor every minute of your wedding day. From the
primping and fluffing to the vows and tears, the food and drinks, the dancing
and toasts, this will be a day you want to remember for the rest of your life.
Allow it to imprint on your mind and your heart and enjoy it immensely! By the
way, congratulations!

]]>Fri, 25 Jan 2013 15:00:00 -0500COTTON CANDY CHAMPAGNE COCKTAILhttp://www.hercincinnati.com/articles/2013/01/25/cotton_candy_champagne_cocktail
http://www.hercincinnati.com/articles/2013/01/25/cotton_candy_champagne_cocktailSignature cocktails are almost a must for wedding receptions
these days. They’re a fun way to individualize cocktail hour and reflect your
personal tastes as a couple. Recipes can incorporate your favorite spirits,
match your color theme, enhance your wedding season or style or incorporate
name play e.g. Mary’s Margarita, Groom’s Gimlet and so on.

This Cotton Candy Champagne Cocktail is such a creative,
cute drink to serve at a reception, and it can be easily adapted to match your
color scheme. It’s also inexpensive and basically labor free; you won’t need to
hire a mixologist to stand behind the bar and shake multiple ingredients
together. If you just put a little puff of the sugary stuff into a champagne
flute and pour liquid over it, it magically dissolves into a beautiful cocktail
— the color of your wedding!

And while cotton candy is weird and wonderful — it reminds
me of fairs, the circus, Kings Island and Bengals/Reds games (because the
giant pink cones always block my view) — it’s very easy to make. Cotton candy
is simply spun, heated sugar, which can be turned any color or flavor you want.
Just add a little food coloring to the sugar before spinning or use
store-bought flavored, dyed sugar and voila! You can buy colored and flavored
cocoons at the store or rent a cotton candy maker (usually around $50) and make
it yourself.

INGREDIENTS:

1fluff of cotton candy

Champagne
to top

INSTRUCTIONS:

Put a fluff of cotton candy in each champagne flute and then
pour champagne over to top it off. It’s best to pour in front of guests so they can watch it
dissolve and change color.

When the moniker of a workout regimen includes the phrase
“boot camp,” you expect results — and probably to do hundreds of push-ups at 6
a.m. while an ex-drill sergeant yells at you. For Queen City Kettlebell’s
Blushing Brides Bootcamp, only the good part of that expectation is true: the
results, which are underwritten by a money-back guarantee.

The comprehensive, personalized fitness and nutrition
program at Blushing Brides Bootcamp is built around a core of Russian
kettlebell training. Exercising with kettlebells — different sized cast-iron
weights with handles — offers a complete, full-body strength and cardio
workout. And it has been shown to burn fat and calories faster and more
efficiently than the traditional blend of cardio and weight training, with an
astounding average loss of 272 calories in 20 minutes, according to a
University of Wisconsin, La Crosse Exercise and Health Program study.

“[The kettlebell] is a very versatile training tool,” says
boot camp instructor Carla Grimm, one of only about 2,000 Russian Kettlebell
Certified (RKC) instructors in the world. “It’s ballistic, explosive and
strength-training all at the same time. You’re using the largest muscle groups
in your body … so it’s just an incredible tool for fat loss, fitness and strength.”

Blushing Brides Bootcamp offers an eight- or twelve-week
total body plan where brides-to-be complete an intense kettlebell
interval-training program, bolstered by an intelligent nutrition plan, to help
achieve the goal of looking fantastic when they walk down the aisle.

“It’s a lifestyle approach, really,” says Grimm. “This isn’t
just your Tuesday night dance club. This isn’t just your, ‘I’m dieting again
because it’s Monday.’ This is, ‘Here’s how I’m going to improve my lifestyle.’
… It’s holistic in that you don’t just diet or eat a certain way and you don’t
just work out. It’s both.”

But the first thing you do when you sign up for the program
is go through a consultation process with the Queen City Kettlebell
instructors. “We meet with the bride, talk about what her goals are, what she
would like to do and how she would like to improve her fitness and her health
before she gets married,” says Grimm.

Then, once you’re enrolled in the boot camp program, you’ll
get an introductory kettlebell class to teach you basic kettlebell skills and
safety followed by three, one-hour progressive small group or one-on-one
workout sessions per week and personalized nutritional guidance.

“There’s no jumping, there’s no bouncing,” says Grimm. “No
coordinated dance moves like Zumba to have to follow and feel silly when you
can’t.”

“There’s just some basic skills to learn which are very
fundamental,” she adds. “And then once you get those, it’s just progressive —
everyone’s always improving their skill.”

The basic moves include things like a two-handed kettlebell
swing, which is exactly what it sounds like; the goblet squat, which uses the
kettlebell as a weight when squatting; and the Turkish Get-Up, which is a
series of controlled movements that take you from the floor to your side to
standing.

“It’s both a strength and cardio workout at the same time,
so that’s where you get your biggest bang for the buck,” says Grimm, who used
to be an avid runner before discovering kettlebell. “There aren’t hours running
on the treadmill or the cycle machine or the elliptical machine."

And the workout is great for any age group, even older
adults, because of that focus on personalized, controlled strength and
movement.

“We do a lot of assessments with our clients on their
functional movement,” says Grimm. “We try to use the kettlebell drills as
corrective drills to help them move better, sit better, have better posture and
increase their stability and mobility, which then allows them to increase their
performance and their strength.”

For her female clients, Grimm sees incredible gains in
muscle tone. “Nothing ever bulky, of course, because that doesn’t happen —
that’s a myth. But I see very leaned out brides that feel really good.”
In fact, a lot of the Blushing Brides Bootcamp clients love
kettlebell so much that they stay on with Queen City Kettlebell. They’ve even
had a bride be so successful with her training, she had to get her dress taken
in on her wedding day.

But if for some reason a bride-to-be doesn’t meet her goal,
Queen City Kettlebell offers a 50-percent money-back guarantee.

“You know, we haven’t even had to discuss that with a client
yet,” says Grimm. “But it’s there to just say we really believe in this and we
really think that if you’re here and you’re serious, we’re serious and we’re
going to help you meet your goals.”

Eden Floral Boutique, located in the hip neighborhood of
Over-the-Rhine, is the perfect setting for a floral shop that creates fresh,
modern arrangements. Molly Lay, manager and graphic designer at Eden, says,
“Designing a bouquet usually starts with an idea from the bride whether it be a
feel, style or color scheme — analogous reds, blush tones and peach, loose and
elegant, tight and contemporary ... the options are endless.” Eden has access
to blooms from across the globe, and while seasonal availability is important,
if a flower is rare or out of season, it just costs a little bit more to get it
from there to here. Browse the boutique’s slick, contemporary website filled
with floral arrangements from previous weddings and don’t miss the photos of
their stunning, sparkling brooch bouquets. “It is a bunching of 75 to 300 wired
brooches that are meaningful to the bride and family or are just beautiful.
It’s definitely an undertaking but the results are worth it,” says Lay. 1129 Walnut St., OTR, 513-281-3336, edenfloralboutique.com.

Yellow Canary: Flowers and Event Design

Though this floral boutique was established relatively
recently (in 2007), it has cemented itself as a trusted floral and
detail-oriented event designer in Cincinnati. Yellow Canary’s floral designs
are often grand and elegant — at times oversized and bold and in other
instances more natural, reminiscent of moss and other beautiful elements that
could have been gathered from the exterior of a hobbit’s home. Owner Kristen
Sekowski welcomes a bride’s vision and helps her create a style all her own. “I
would say that 99.9 percent of the time we create something completely unique,”
says Sekowski. “I hesitate to copy a style because I think each bouquet should
be special and speak to the style of the bride.” She recalls one of her
favorite arrangements: a head table made completely out of natural materials. “We used succulents, moss and flowers,” she
says. “It was a lot of fun and definitely unique.” 333 W. Benson St., Reading,
859-609-2020, yellowcanaryonline.com.

Courtenay Lambert Florals

There’s something about Courtenay Lambert Floral’s floral
and event design style that you can almost pick out of a line-up, and that
consistency is why brides flock to her. Lambert says, “We have thousands of
pictures. We keep a portfolio on our iPad and [brides] can flip through it
while they’re here, but we also have a huge blog that they can look through.”
Many of her pieces feature roses and other simple buds with soft, rounded
petals often arranged in subtle color ways of white, blush, coral and ivory,
sometimes mixed with striking accents of saturated colors. And Lambert always
makes sure she and a bride are on the same page. “Sometimes the picture that’s
in their head might not be the picture that’s in my head,” shes says. “One
person’s pink isn’t another person’s pink and one person’s purple isn’t another
person’s purple.” So Lambert likes to pull pictures during a consultation to
make sure her design meshes with the bride’s vision as perfectly as possible. 610
Main St., Covington, Ky., 859-581-3333, courtenaylambert.com.

Inspired Floral Design

Inspired Floral Design’s style leans toward an organic and
free-flowing bohemian vibe. Their pieces are dynamic, incorporating flowers and
other natural elements of varied heights and colors. And since owner/atmosphere
stylist Robin Buop has had 27 years of floral and event experience, she knows
what works. “Anything on the cover of Martha Stewart is normally
just for the sake of the photoshoot and not a real wedding,” says Buop. “[It]
will not hold up after a long day out of water.” With the growing popularity of
Pinterest and other online idea sources, brides can become overwhelmed with
options. In addition to inspiring images, Buop points out, “We always ask our
brides to bring in photos of what they don’t like. This allows us
to explain why they are attracted to a certain style.” 130
W. Sixth St., Covington, Ky., 513-370-7372, inspiredfloral.com.

]]>Thu, 24 Jan 2013 15:00:00 -050020TH CENTURY CINCINNATIhttp://www.hercincinnati.com/articles/2013/01/24/20th_century_cincinnati
http://www.hercincinnati.com/articles/2013/01/24/20th_century_cincinnatiThe 19th annual 20th Century Cincinnati vintage modern show takes place at the
Sharonville Convention Center on Feb. 23-24, 2013. Items that emerged between
World War I and the Information Age will be on display for sale throughout the
weekend.

During that time period, Modernist trends began developing. With new
developments in technology, materials and popular culture, styles such as Art
Deco, Futuristic and Streamline began to flourish. This installment plans to
be the largest one yet with 60 dealers in the center’s new 20,000 East/West
Exhibit Hall.

While 20th Century Cincinnati is best known for
their wide selection of furniture and lighting, many other items can be found
throughout the show such as decorative objects from the 1920s through the 1980s including art glass, pottery, paintings, posters, metalwares, textiles and
dinnerware. In the fashion realm, vintage clothing, exotic accessories, and
costume jewelry are available. From quality items to quirky odds and ends,
there is something for everyone’s budget.

This years’ special exhibit features items from the late
Modern-style designer Russel Wright. His credits include lighting, metalware,
dinnerware, furniture, glassware, textiles and many other products for
manufacturers. The exhibit will include family memorabilia and items Wright
designed from the Warren County History Museum.

Activities kick off with a Java Preview starting at 9 a.m. on Saturday. This two-hour event includes an exclusive shopping period,
coffee and light breakfast bar, and a full-weekend pass to the exhibit.

Tickets
are $25 and can be purchased at the Java Preview
page. 20th Century
Cincinnati recommends that anyone interested in the preview event should
purchase tickets in advance because they are limited to 300 attendees only. Advance
sales end at midnight on Thursday Feb. 21, 2013. Regular show hours on Saturday and Sunday are
from 11 a.m.- to 5 p.m. and $7 admission fee will grant access for both
days.

Adornments: Sew & Create Accessories with Fabric, Lace & Beads by Myra Callan. Oregon-based
designer Myra Callan is well-known for her whimsically fresh bridal adornment
line, Twigs & Honey. With a focus on fine
craftsmanship, her headpieces, fascinators, crowns and hand-stitched veils will
cost brides-to-be a pretty penny, but for those of us who would rather reach
for a needle and thread than our wallet, Callan’s new book, Adornments, shows DIY brides how to create their
own accessories with simple step-by-step techniques.

The Knot Ultimate Wedding Lookbook by Carley Roney and editors of theknot.com. Founded in
1996, theknot.com is an informative, visual feast and basically every bride’s
first stop for wedding planning inspiration — well, outside of Pinterest.
Co-founder Carley Roney and her editors have taken the essence of this
quintessential wedding website and compiled a book of a similar ilk with more
than 1,000 gorgeous color photographs, expert tips, effective timelines, money
saving tricks and detailed lists to help couples plan their perfect day.

Martha Stewart’s Wedding Cakes by Martha Stewart and Wendy Kromer. Stewart and
master baker/decorator Wendy Kromer guide you through all you need to know
before you make a decision about your wedding cake. There are charts and tips
to explain each material bakers use, as well as what flavors and styles work
best for your wedding theme, season and location. The book also has recipes and
insider techniques to help you bake and decorate your own memorable,
professional-grade cake.

Rustic Wedding Chic by Maggie Lord. Rusticweddingchic.com
is one of the internet’s best resources for information on trendy “barn”
weddings, and this book takes the website’s inspiration, ideas and advice on
planning a personalized country wedding and combines it with photos of real,
rustic nuptials — all with a signature eco-friendly and creative approach.

The Big White Book of Weddings: A How-To Guide for the Savvy, Stylish Bride by David Tutera. David Tutera
is the detail-oriented diva of the wedding planning world and if you’ve seen
his show, My Fair
Wedding with David Tutera,
you know that he leaves no decorative stone unturned. His Big White Book of Weddings offers a wealth of expert advice —
the same he gives to his A-list clientele like Jennifer Lopez and Susan Lucci —
on all aspects of planning the perfect day “designed to get every bride down
the aisle in style.”

Style Me Pretty Weddings: Inspiration and Ideas for an
Unforgettable Celebration by Abby Larson. Abby Larson brings her incredibly popular,
16.5-million-viewers-per-month stylemepretty.com to paper. With a fresh attitude
and more than 250 swoon-worthy photos of love-filled weddings and DIY projects,
Larson’s book focuses on the basics of determining your couple style in order
to thread quirky and intimate personal touches throughout your big day.

illustration by Julie Hill

]]>Thu, 24 Jan 2013 12:00:00 -0500ICE PRINCESShttp://www.hercincinnati.com/articles/2013/01/24/ice_princess
http://www.hercincinnati.com/articles/2013/01/24/ice_princess
The
business of selecting an engagement ring is such a personal and important event
in the life of a couple that’s ready to take the next step that gone are the
days when the ring’s selection was a private matter for just the groom. Today
it seems that an outing to the jewelry store is de rigueur for a duo that’s
madly in love.

While wedding dress fashion trends may come and go, a bride
will proudly display her engagement ring on her hand every single day,
regardless of her outfit, the event or the season. Of course, no matter the
style of the rock, it will always be the story and meaning behind the ring that
is really important, but the style of an engagement ring should be carefully
considered.

There are four ‘C’s to think about when shopping for a diamond:
color, clarity, cut and carat. The characteristics are rated according to the
Gemological Institute of America’s (GIA) 4Cs of Diamond Quality, the first
universally agreed-upon standard for describing and assessing the quality of
diamonds.

Color.
A chemically and structurally perfect diamond should have no hue. Rated on a
scale from D (clear) to Z (increasing presence of yellow/brown/grey), diamonds
in the D color-range are the clearest and most valuable with decreasing value
as you go down the color scale. Most jewelry stores carry diamonds in the D to
L (faint) color range.

Clarity.
A diamond’s clarity is measured by how many flaws both internally (inclusions)
and externally (blemishes) it has, as well as how big the flaws are and where
they are placed. The GIA’s ratings go from “Flawless,” with basically no
imperfections, to “Included,” which contain a significant number of
imperfections. The flaws are what make your diamond unique, but you want to
avoid stones with inclusions that affect its brilliance.

Cut.
The cut of a diamond unleashes its sparkle. Artisans craft facets into the body
of the stone in an arrangement that creates its shape and brilliance. Most
standard diamond jewelry consists of “round brilliant diamonds,” but rings also
come in cuts like emerald, princess and pear. No matter the shape, each stone
is rated from “Excellent” to “Poor” based on the brilliance, sparkle and fire
resulting from the cut.

Carat.
A carat is how much a diamond weighs. One carat is equivalent to 200 milligrams.
The heavier the diamond, the more it weighs — unless it is flawed in the other
three Cs.

While the 4Cs of Diamond Quality should always be taken into
consideration before investing in a ring, so should the bride’s taste. We’ve
broken down our five favorite settings, starting with classic and moving toward
unique, to give you some inspiration.

Classic
Solitaire

Known for their simple elegance, Tiffany & Co. rings —
especially their six-pronged, single-diamond Tiffany Setting — have been a
staple for couples in love for ages now. Any version of this classic solitaire
setting, in a blue box or not, highlights the beauty of a loose diamond and
will be elegant until the end of time. This “no fuss” setting and its elevated,
lone diamond are sure to be seen sparkling from across a crowded room. Gabriel
& Co. solitaire engagement ring, Kirk & Company Jewelers, 117 Main St.,
Milford, kirkandcompanyjewelers.com.

DoubleHalo

Last year, the halo setting was a major trend for
brides-to-be. In 2013, the industry has decided to build on this trend and up
the ante a bit. The double halo setting simply takes the standard halo and adds
another tier of smaller diamonds around the center stone. By using subtle,
contrasting colors in the surrounding stones, the double halo manages to create
the impression of a much larger center stone. Beauty aside, this setting is
perfect for the couple that wants all of the sparkle without the intimidating
price tag. Tacori handcrafted heirloom engagement ring with a double
bloom spotlighting the center diamond, Richter & Phillips Co., 202 E. Sixth
St., Downtown, richterphillips.com.

Antique

Though the meaning and commitment symbolized in an
engagement ring cannot be compared from couple to couple, some brides are
looking for something completely unique. Antique or vintage rings are a great
option for the bride that loves a good story. These historic pieces can be
handed down through the family or even discovered while traveling the globe.
What’s fascinating about this trend, however, is that it’s actually not a trend
at all. Because of the different history, size, color, price, etc. of each of
the antique pieces, the bride will have something as personal as the love she
shares with her partner. Art Deco European-cut engagement ring,
Schwartz Jewelers, 6114 Hamilton Ave., College Hill,
schwartzjewelers.net.

Colored
Stones

Having an engagement ring featuring a colored stone isn’t
anything new by any means, but it’s definitely trending right now for
brides-to-be. When Kate Middleton flashed her 18-carat blue sapphire engagement
ring back in 2010, the world noticed. Much like an antique ring, having a bit
of color for the center stone is a unique way to stand out among other brides. Ruby
center stone surrounded by 28 diamonds, Boris Litwin Jewelers, 7565 Kenwood
Road, Suite 204, Montgomery, 513-621-1123.

Conflict-Free
Diamonds

Although this trend doesn’t focus exclusively on
the aesthetics of the engagement ring, it is something that is very important
to many couples. Conflict-free diamonds are a fantastic choice because they
have been obtained without the use of any violence. This trend (or ethical
stance, rather) gained notoriety in 2006 when the movie Blood
Diamond hit theaters. Suddenly this issue, of which
many were unaware, was a discussion topic among couples looking for the perfect
ring. Luckily, many jewelers have taken a stand and now exclusively sell
conflict-free diamonds. SindurStyle, sindurstyle.com.